L-R: Tom Bergeron, Jodie Sweetin, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Nyle DiMarco; ABC/Adam Taylor(LOS ANGELES) — Despite delivering her best dance of the competition Monday night, Fuller House star Jodie Sweetin was voted off Dancing with the Stars — just one week shy of the season-22 semifinals.
The actress was eliminated based on her performance on last week’s show, when she landed at the bottom of the leader board after two routines. Although she and Wanya Morris were both in jeopardy of going home, Sweetin had the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and viewer votes.
“I couldn’t ask for a better way to say thank you. Like, I got to do this, I got to go out on all 10s, that’s amazing,” she said.
She added that she was starting production on Fuller House on Tuesday.
“This has been an absolutely incredible experience. I can’t thank you enough, Keo,” she said, addressing her pro partner, Keo Motsepe.
Before the results were revealed, the competitors performed two routines -– one with their respective pro partners, followed by a team-up challenge. For that second dance, three sets of couples -– each coached by one of the three judges –- went head to head for judges’ scores and viewer votes online.
Highlights of the show included a sensual Viennese waltz from football player Antonio Brown, a high-energy, church-inspired jive from Sweetin, Wanya Morris slipping on a fallen bandanna during his rapid-fire jive, and a surprise visit from last season’s Mirror Ball winner, Bindi Irwin.
Judges’ Team-Up Challenge
Team Bruno: Sweetin and Nyle DiMarco danced anArgentine tango choreographed by judge Bruno Tonioli. In this routine, there was a gender switch -– Sweetin dancing with pro Peta Murgratoyd, and DiMarco with Motsepe. Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman gave it 10 points each, and viewers scored a 9, for a total of 29 points to be added to the dancers’ scores for the night.
Team Goodman: GMA meteorologist Ginger Zee and Morris teamed up to dance a Goodman-choreographed samba –- and the head judge himself made a cameo appearance in the final seconds of the routine. His fellow judges — and viewers voting online — gave the routine 29 points.
Team Carrie Ann: Judge Carrie Ann Inaba choreographed a primal paso doble for Brown and UFC fighter Paige VanZant. Her team earned 29 points.
Monday night’s top scorers: Sweetin’s effervescent jive was hailed as “euphoric” by Tonioli, and his fellow judges agreed. Goodman said Sweetin’s was the dance that made him happy Monday night, and Inaba commended Sweetin — and her pro partner –- for their performance, telling Sweetin: “That was your best dance ever!” The actress earned 30 out of a possible 30 points -– her first perfect score of the season.
Zee followed up on her perfect score from last week with another flawless performance -– this one a passionate Argentine paso doble. Tonioli called Zee a “luscious, tantalizing temptress,” and Inaba said the routine was “mind-blowing.” Goodman appreciated the routine’s contrasts –- fast and slow, hard and soft, fire and ice –- saying, “That was one hell of a dance.” The routine earned another perfect score.
Monday night’s standout moment: The judges had high praise for DiMarco’s paso doble, which included a dramatic sequence in which the music was turned off while DiMarco was joined on the dance floor by other male dancers, all dancing in silent unison. DiMarco, who is deaf, said he wanted to invite the audience to experience the competition as he does. The routine drew huge cheers from the audience and a near-perfect 29 points from judges. Tonioli said the routine was “mind-blowing,” adding: “That sequence, the silent sequence, it was like watching five men dancing to the beat of a single heart….” Inaba battled tears as she told DiMarco that his routine touched her profoundly, but Goodman wasn’t as effusive in his praise. He saw flaws in the model/actor’s foot placement and the shaping of his body, but agreed with his fellow judges that the routine had confidence and purpose, telling DiMarco, “Nyle, you’re amazing.”
Judges’ Scores (1st dance, 2nd dance. Total)
–Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy: 30; 29. Total: 59
–Jodie Sweetin and Keo Motsepe: 30; 29. Total: 59 (They were voted off.)
–Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd: 29; 29. Total: 58
–Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas: 28; 29. Total: 57
–Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess: 27; 29. Total: 56
–Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold: 25; 29. Total: 54
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